Pump and operating means



Jan. 29, 1963 J. c. MILLER PUMP AND OPERATING MEANS Filed Dec. 15, 1960INVENTOR. JOHN C. MILLER 809A, W041. wo'al A T TOPNEVS United StatesPatent() 3,075,471 PUMP AND GPERATING MEANS John C. Miiler, 410Tennessee, Vallejo, Calif. Filed Dec. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 75,999 7Claims. (Cl. 103-151) The present invention relates to a pump and pumpoperating means and more particularly to a high speed, highly efficientpump for pumping gasses and liquids.

It is a main object of the present invention to provide a pump whichoperates at high speeds with great eiliciency when pumping either gassesor liquids.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical,mechanically efficient means of operating said pump at a high rate ofspeed.

it is still another object of this invention to provide a pump andoperating means that will function properly at high speed under asizeable load and pressure.

Other objects and advantages of the device of the present invention willbe obvious from the description taken in conjunction with the drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan View, sectioned in part, of the device of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating a deadcenter position of the motor;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the washer, pistonand cylinder arrangement in the device of this invention, illustratingthe intake phase of operation;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 but illustrating thebeginning of the exhaust phase of operation;

PEG. 5 is a view similar to to those of FIGS. 3, 4 but illustratingcomplete exhaustion;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view illustrating an alternative formof the present invention used in combination with a reservoir.

In general, the preferred form of the device comprises a piston operatedcylindrical pump 1, and a pump driving means 2. Said pump driving oroperating means is preferably in the form of a magnetic motor.

In detail, the driving means of pump 1 is an electromagnetic motor 2driven by an alternating current. A generally C-shaped core 3 is woundwith a coil 4 which is supplied by an alternating electric current toform a standard electromagnet. Supported in the air gap between the endsof core 3 and mounted on a leaf spring 5 is a metallic weight 6. Saidweight 6 is so mounted for reciprocal movement within said air gapbetween the ends of core 3. Spring 5 is rigidly secured to a framemember 7 at a point spaced from but intermediate the ends of core 3.Weight 6 would normally be held in the position shown in FIG. 2 by theresiliency of spring 5. However, when coil 4 is charged with current,core 3 takes on a polarity depending upon the winding of coil 4. Sincethe current applied to coil 4 is alternating, the polarity of core 3 isnot constant. Assuming that coil 4 is so wound on core 3 that the upperend 9 of core 3, as seen in FIG. 1, is the north pole of theelectromagnet and the lower end 10 is the south pole, when coil 4 isenergized, the north pole 9 will repel weight 6 and the south pole 10will attract said weight. While the current is changing, since it isalternating current. there is no charge on core 3. Thus, there is atendency for spring 5 to return weight 6 toward the normal position ofFIG. 2 and possibly beyond if not repelled by the core 3 again beingcharged.

Assuming there was no resiliency to the supporting means of weight '6,said weight oscillates between ends 9,

10 of core 3 each time the current changed. If the exciting current werenormal sixty cycle current, weight '6 would Patented Jan. 29, 1953oscillate between ends 9, 1t sixty complete times per second.

However, weight 6 is mounted on a leaf spring 5 and said spring has anatural resiliency or tuned frequency and, much as a tuning fork, saidspring will tend to make weight 6 vibrate at a certain frequency. Thismay depend on the material used in the spring and the size of saidspring. If the material frequency of spring and weight is sixty fullcycles per second, it would be in tune with the exciting current to coil4 and weight 6 would make sixty full cycles per second. However, inorder to increase the speed of motor 2, it is desirable to use a springwhich will vibrate at twice the exciting frequency. Thus, when theexciting currency has set weight 6 in motion, there will be a tendencyfor spring 5 to move weight 6 at 120 full cycles per second. In otherwords, while the alternating current is changing and there is no chargeon core 3, spring 6 will continue to vibrate due to its resiliency andmove Weight 6 through another full cycle, from north pole back to northpole, before the core 3 is again charged. The accuracy of spring 5 ismost important since it must be tuned so that the structure vibrates atexactly the primary or any harmonic of the driving frequency. Thisdriving frequency could be any one frequency in the mechanical spectrumand dependent upon selection of the mass-spring combination.

The pump 1 driven by the above-described magnetic motor 2 comprises: acylinder 12 integral with a frame 7; a piston 13; a frusto-conicalspring washer 14; a sealing disc 15; a retaining spring 16 for saidsealing disc and an exhaust port 17.

In the form of this invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, frame member 7 isrigidly connected to the side of core 3 opposite ends 9, 10. Aspreviously described, spring 5 is mounted in frame 7. Frame 7 isapertured as at 19 to allow end 16 of core 3 to partially passtherethrough in its normal position. Aiso weight 6 partially passesthrough aperture 19 on its downward stroke while in operation. At theend of frame 7 opposite core 3, cylinder 12 of pump 1 is formed integraltherewith. Cylinder 12 has a closed end 211 and an opposite open end inwhich piston 13 is loosely mounted for reciprocal movement. Intermediatethe two ends of cylinder 12 and in the direction of the open end, theinside diameter of said cylinder decreases forming an abutment orshoulder 21 (FIGS. 3-5). Mounted in the large end 22 of cylinder 12 andforceably riding against said shoulder 21 is a frusto-conical springwasher 14 held in place by a sealing disc 15 which is in turn forcedagainst washer 14 and shoulder 21 by a helical retaining spring 16.

In order to impart the movement of motor 2 to piston 13, a rigid link 24is pivotally connected to weight 6 and piston 13 as at 25 and 26respectively.

In operation, when weight 6 of motor 2 vibrates between ends 9, 10 ofcore 3, this movement is transmitted to piston 13 through link 24.Piston 13, mounted for reciprocal movement within the small open end ofcylinder 12, moves toward and away from the closed end 20 of saidcylinder. When weight 6 is in the full line or dotted line positions ofFIG. 1, piston 13 will be completely withdrawn from closed end 20. WhenWeight 6 is intermediate ends 9, 10 of core 3, as seen in FIG. 2, piston13 will be extended to its maximum and will be in abutting relation withwasher 14 and sealing disc 15.

As seen in FIG. 3, piston 13 is completely withdrawn, allowing theresiliency of spring Washer 14 to force said washer to its naturalfrusto-conical shape. Washer 14 is preferably made of an elasticmaterial such as a synthetic resin but may also be made of a thinresilient enter the open end of cylinder 12 around the sides of loosefitting piston 13, and then enter the space defined by washer 14, piston13 and disc 15. When weight 6 moves toward the position of FIG. 2,piston 13 starts its stroke toward sealing disc 15 and aperture 27 isclosed by protrusion 28 and a tight seal is made between washer 14 andpiston 13. As weight 6 continues toward the position of FIG. 2 andpiston 13 is forced toward sealing disc 15, the volume Within conicalwasher 14 decreases, forcing out the gas or liquid that may be entrappedtherein. This trapped gas or liquid is forced out at the base of conicalwasher 14 where said washer is in contact with sealing disc 15. Theexhausted gas or liquid then enters chamber 22 of cylinder 12 from whichit subsequently will be forced through port 17.

As seen in FIG. 5, when piston 13 is fully extended, washer 141sflattened between said piston and sealing disc 15. This feature incombination with the fact that sealing disc 15 is spring loaded and willgive slightly under the urgency of piston 13 assures completedexnanstion of the gas or liquid contained within washer I4. Thiscomplete exhaustion has heretofore been unattainable with the standardcylindrical pump having a fixed head. i v

, .As previously described, the speed of motor 2 is doubled by the useof a spring which vibrates weight 6 at exactly twice the excitingfrequency of the current.

.Thus if sixty cycle current is used and the frequency of {spring 5doubles this, the output of motor 2 would be 120 full cycles per second.It should be noted that for each full cycle of weight 6, piston 13completes two pumping operations. As weight 6 approaches the full lineposition of FIG. 2 from the full line position of FIG. 1, piston 13 isfully extended as seen in FIGS. 2, 5. Weight 6 continues its downwardtravel to thedotted line position of FIG. 1 withdrawing piston 13 andrefillin'g the chamber of conical washer 14. Then as the resiliency ofspringS returns weight 6 from the dotted line position to the full lineposition of FIG. 1, completing the cycle for weight 6, piston 13 isagain fully extended and withdrawn. Thus the operating speed of pump 1is twice the operating speed of motor 2 and "pump 1 will deliverzit-2'40 cycles per second. Although I it is natural for the normalcylindrical pump of this type to exhaust a gas or liquid in spurts, theextremely high speeds attainable by the device of the present inventionassures "a steady, continual flow from the pumping "operation.

As seen in FIG. "6, the motor and "pump may be contained within anairtight reservoir 29 when, as an example, pure gasses are to be pumped.In such a case the walls of the reservoir itself may act as the mountingframe for'mot'or '2 and pump 1 eliminating the need for such a frame 7as seen in FIGS. 1,'2. Here the pumping operation would both draw thegas into reservoir "29 through inlet 30 and then expel said gas fromsaid reservoir at high speed through outlet 31.

'As with any electromagnet, the force of motor '2 can "be varied 'by thewindings of coil 4, depending upon the particular operating conditions.

7 Although the preferred form of the present invention is described indetail, this is not "to be construed as a limitation upon thisinvention, as modifications may be "apparent to one skilled in'the artwithout departing from "the scope and spirit'of the appending claims.

I claim:

1. In 'a fluid pump including a cylinder, a frusto-c'onical washerfloatin'gly mounted in said cylinder, a fixed annular shoulder formedinsaid cylinder and engaging "the outer side of said washer adjacent thelarger diameter end of the latter, and a piston adapted toreciprocateaxially toward and away from and to engage the outer side ofthe smaller diameter end of said washer for compressing the same in anaxial directlon, said piston being provided with a central boss adaptedto be received Within the small diameter ead of said washer, andyieldable means at the larger diameter end of said washer "restrainingthe same against bodily movement away from said shoulder.

. 3. In a fluid pump, a trusts-conical washer, a fixed annular "shoulderengaging the outer side of said washer adjacent the larger diameter endof the latter, and a piston adapted to reciprocate axially toward andaway from and to engage the outer side of the smaller diameter end ofsaid washer for compressing the same in an axial direction, a pressureplate engaging said larger diameter end of said washer for resistingtranslation of said washer during compression thereof, and yieldablemeans supporting said plate to permit a slight shifting of said plate inresponse to the force of said piston.

'4. In a fluid pump, a frusto-conical washer, a fixed annular shoulderengaging the outer side of said washer adjacent the larger diameter endof the latter, and a piston adapted to reciprocate axially toward andaway from and to engage the outer side of the smaller diameter end ofsaid washer for compressing the same in an axial direction, a pressureplate engaging said larger diameter end of said washer for resistingtranslation of said washer during compression thereof, and yieldablemeans supporting said plate to permit a slight shifting of said plate inresponse to the force of said piston, said pressure plate beingoperative to urge said outer side of said washer into engagement with:said shoulder at all times.

5. In a fluid pump, a frusto-conical washer having a central aperture,ta fxe'd annular shoulder engaging the outer side of said washeradjacent the larger diameter end of "the latter, and a piston adapted toreciprocate -axia'lly toward and away from and :to engage the outerside'o-f the smaller diameter end of said washer for closing saidaperture and compressing the Washer in an axial direction,electromagnetic means for reciprocating said piston toward and away from*said washer, and yieldable holdingm'eans at the larger diameter end ofsaid washer 'for restraining :bodily movement :of the latter awayfromsaid shoulder.

6. 'In a fluid pump, a hollow frusto-conical pumping element ofrelatively rigid resilient material, a fixed annular shoulder engagingthe-outer side of said element along .a generally circular line ofcontact adjacent the larger diameter end of said element,-a pistonengageable :with'thesmaller diameter end of said element and adapted toreciprocate axially ofsaid element .toward and away therefrom foreu'rging said smaller diameter end of the latter toward the largerdiameter .end for compressing "s'aidnelement against its .own resiliency.and for discharging 'fiuid contained within said element, and yieldableholding :means engaging the larger diameter end of said element forrestraining bodily -movement of the same :during said compression.

7. In a fluid pump, a 'hollow Qfrusto-conical pumping elementof'relativelyrigid resilient material, afixed anlargerdiameterendoflsaid element, a piston engageable with the smallerdiameter end of said element and adapted to reciprocate axially of saidelement for urging said smaller diameter end of the latter toward thelarger diameter end for compressing said element against its ownresiliency and for discharging fluid contained within said element, andholding means engaging the larger diameter end of said element forrestraining bodily movement of the same during said compression; andyield- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSHartline Mar. 2, 1943 Loweke Aug. 1, 1944

1. IN A FLUID PUMP INCLUDING A CYLINDER, A FRUSTO-CONICAL WASHERFLOATINGLY MOUNTED IN SAID CYLINDER, A FIXED ANNULAR SHOULDER FORMED INSAID CYLINDER AND ENGAGING THE OUTER SIDE OF SAID WASHER ADJACENT THELARGER DIAMETER END OF THE LATTER, AND A PISTON ADAPTED TO RECIPROCATEAXIALLY TOWARD AND AWAY FROM AND TO ENGAGE THE OUTER SIDE OF THE SMALLERDIAMETER END OF SAID WASHER FOR COMPRESSING THE SAME IN AN AXIALDIRECTION, AND YIELDABLE MEANS AT THE LARGER DIAMETER END OF SAID WASHERRESTRAINING THE SAME AGAINST BODILY MOVEMENT AWAY FROM SAID SHOULDER.